Chuck’s Hole in the Wall BBQ

I guess I’ll just say this BBQ doesn’t have any smoke flavor. It all just tastes like braised meat — I had the brisket and pulled pork. The sandwiches are probably better because you’re not relying on the meat for all of the flavor. Potato salad was pretty good

I stop by here once a week and enjoy the great food and witty banter from behind the counter. Love the fact I can order it super spicy by asking for ‘the whole burn.’ Great chili, great brisket, great pulled pork.

meh.
These guys were quite friendly, the BBQ though wasn’t quite as good as I’d hoped it would be. There was a Texas license plate hanging up there but the brisket wasn’t anything like Texas brisket — it was tough and in a sauce. The sausage was decent. None of it was bad by any means, it simply wasn’t great either. It was very fast so anyone in a hurry to grab a quick lunch may appreciate that, and as far as Seattle BBQ goes it’s pretty good — it simply isn’t on par with anything in the south.

This is one of the first places I visited to eat upon arrival to Seattle and I was greeted very warmly. After reading a couple of reviews on Unilocal,I chose to have the brisket sandwich. And WOW! It tasted like nothing I’ve ever eaten before. The meat was so tender and juicy, the bbq sauce was spot on. My boyfriend who came a while after, also ordered the brisket sandwich, he loved the sandwich so much that he ordered another one; the pulled pork sandwich. It was great!!! Needless to say, in the 3 weeks that we were in Seattle, we came back every week for the hospitality, and of course, the food.
I’m very impressed mostly by the friendliness and spontaneity of the staff here. After I told him that our hotel receptionist recommended us to «follow the smell» when I asked him where the Hole in the Wall was, the owner gave me a free cornbread to give to the nice receptionist.
It was very bittersweet to part from the yumminess that is Hole in the Wall BBQ, that my boyfriend and I decided to also purchase their homemade BBQ sauce to take back home to the Netherlands, just so that we can still enjoy our wonderful memory of this small but cozy and friendly place.

I’ve lived in Houston for a few years, so my expectations might have been too high for Seattle barbecue (they do claim «Texas BBQ» though…)
I had brisket, chicken, and pulled pork with the spicy sauce. My take:
— the brisket was chewy
— the chicken was fatty (don’t they advertise some fat-​reducing style of cooking?)
— the pork was alright. The sauce, however, wasn’t spicy.
… and none were especially flavorful.
The coleslaw I got as a side was pretty good. I asked if the bbq came with pickles/​onions and the guy didn’t know what I was talking about. You do know every single BBQ place in Texas gives you pickles and onions with your meat… right?

There are several events in my life that I will remember forever.
For example, in 1986 my favorite rapper of all time, Drake, was born to a mixed race couple in Canada.
In 1990, I listened to the greatest song ever made, rapper Gerardo’s «Rico Suave.»
In 1993, I watched the greatest movie of all time, the motion picture spectacle about Jamaican bobsledders entitled Cool Runnings.
In 1998, my favorite Winter Olympic Games of all time were held in Nagano, Japan and my all time favorite athlete, Hermann Maier of Austria, won the gold in spectacular fashion in the giant slalom.
Then in 2004 my favorite Mars land rover, Spirit, landed on Mars. Who can forget that one?
In 2009, my favorite monetary cataclysm of all time happened when the Icelandic banking system collapsed causing the downfall of the Icelandic government and resignation of the Prime Minister Geir Haarde.
In 2013, I cried more than any other year as I tried to cope with Miley Cyrus’s and Liam Hemsworth’s breakup.
And now in 2016, we can add another important historical milestone to my timeline; the discovery of Hole in the Wall BBQ.
It’s a great lunch alternative to eating Chipolte’s norovirus infested tacos, GaBurri’s stank putrid sushi burritos, or bringing in last nights leftovers which for me are typically a combination of my usual dinner; a blue raspberry gas station slurpee and a box of Trader Joe’s Joe Joe’s sandwich crème cookies, a delicious combination of enriched wheat flour, cane juice syrup, and folic acid. Yum.
Plus the laborers at this eatery are gregarious and pleasant.
This place rocks more than Steel Dragon, the fictitious rock band fronted by Izzy Cole (played by Mark Wahlberg) from the best movie of 2001, Rock Star. If you haven’t seen it yet you are a culture-​less barbaric dimwit.

First visit to Chuck’s and what a treat! The BBQ pork sandwich (Pig with Lipstick) was outstanding! The spicy BBQ sauce supplies a consistent burn that is just perfect… can’t wait for a return visit.

Truly my favorite BBQ restaurant! Everything is amazing love the brisket, the BBQ chicken sandwiches, the corn bread and the chili. The chili is the best! Their Texas family recipe is to love for!!!
All the guys are friendly and nice and if you stop in a few times they will remember you. Get there early… one so you don’t have to stand in line outside the door and for two if you go too late they will run out… especially of the ribs, which is my husbands favorite.
The spicy BBQ sauce is the best!!!

I love the «Hole Plate» — 2 meat, one side. The spicy sauce (behind the counter ghost pepper sauce) tastes great _​and_​is burning the lips off of my face. Great coleslaw, too. Love this place!

It’s vey good.
Classic Bar-​b-​q!
The guys behind the counter are in good spirits
I would totally eat here again
Fair price, quick service
If there’s a line, no worries cause they are Fast
Tables are limited
You might need a to go order
(And it’s a downtown Buisness with a restroom)

It was a decent lunch. I had the pulled pork with potato salad. The mild barbecue sauce had a little heat to it, but not too spicy. Potato salad was tasty. I didn’t taste a lot of smoked flavor in the meat, but overall, I think it was okay.
3 Stars!

Was looking for a lunch place while in jury duty — had a bust at Juno and was happy to stumble across barbecue. You can find good BBQ in Seattle but it is that needle in a haystack. I ordered the 2 meat and a side. I asked the gentleman at the counter, what he would recommend — beef and pork — no complaints here. He asked if I wanted spicy. My normal response — I’ll take it as spicy as you make it. He informed me that they have an «off the menu — ghost pepper sauce» SOLD! He said that it wasn’t overdone on the ghost pepper but it was hot.
So I got my meal — the potato salad was acceptable but I didn’t go there for potato salad. With my first bite of BBQ, I thought where is the heat? And with the second and third bites, I knew what he meant. You taste it but it’s not overly done so you can actually taste the meat (perfectly cooked too, btw). This has to rate as one of Seattle’s best places for BBQ.
I can only hope that my trial goes on for weeks and weeks so that I can enjoy this place while I’m downtown.

Very basic, yet very delicious. Got the pulled pork sandwich. The bun, the pork and the BBQ sauce tasted A+ quality. It really hit the spot after a morning flight and train ride into the city.

Awesome staff. Delicious bbq. Spicy hot sauce is fire. Cornbread was legitimately ‘still warm’.
Brisket FTW.

I’m here for one reason, and one reason only — brisket. As we all know, it’s hard to find decent BBQ in Seattle.
Brisket is the stuff dreams are made of! Hearty, tender, and flavorful is what I’m looking for. By far, they have a consistent product. It’s nicely smoked and not over cooked. Also, they’re pretty quick. They have the lunch hour down to a science and everyone is moving in sync. I totally appreciate that! While the guys are being quick, they also have time to be friendly.
I like that you can just order meat at a reasonable price. Other times, I’ll get brisket and salad. Sometimes I think the brisket portion looks small. Each time, I can’t eat it all. It’s a good portion size — I’m just greedy!

Best brisket in town, have also enjoyed Pinky’s, Raney Brothers, Jack’s, bitteroot. Admittedly, Seattle has limited BBQ options but Chuck’s is a bright spot! Per a trusted foodie friend’s rec, I got a half brisket, half pulled pork sandwich with lipstick (coleslaw, pickles, and special sauce added directly to the sandwich). The brisket was incredible — not too fatty but juicy, well-​smoked. The spicy sauce is delish. Pulled pork could be more tender but also on the lean side ftw. Will be back for their St. Louis pork ribs, served Thursdays/​Fridays only.
Love their Do’s and Dont’s — solid BBQ mantra, takes their meat seriously as you should.
The small shop has some limited seating, and is immediately next door to Il Corvo (which as much as I love, always too packed/​rushed for comfort). Laidback vibe at Chuck’s if you need to breathe!
The guys at Chuck’s clearly love their work and customers — stop by for some fingerlickin goodness!

Non-​pizza catering for a group? And good food at that? Yusss.
My work frequently orders pizzas for big events because it’s hard to go wrong with that. For a change of pace, word spread around about how good this place is. We ordered from them for a summer event last year… So far, we’ve used them for a couple of bigger events and have not heard any complaints! In fact, we’ve gotten rave reviews.
As for as large group catering goes, they’re actually decently priced. You get your money’s worth and their delivery staff have always been very nice, helpful and accommodating.
I’m always wary of BBQ in the PNW. While we do seafood right, BBQ is more a Southern thing. I’ve had really amazing BBQ in the South so my standards are somewhere between high and complete jackassery so I try extra hard for people not to just dismiss my BBQ reviews. Chuck’s Hole in the Wall isn’t the best BBQ I’ve had but it’s the best I’ve found in Seattle. It smells heavenly, isn’t dry or overcooked and comes with great sides.
We’ll be repeat costumers for sure!

Overall, an alright place to grab barbeque. I have eaten:
Pulled Pork — not their best item as at times the meat tends to be too chunky and rather dry, even with sauce drenched bites.
Hot Links — solid sausage flavor but the link itself is more smokier than it is actually «hot». The Hot Link Sandwich is an excellent deal, a ton of sliced hot links between two buns.
Brisket — usually thickly sliced. Good smoke and prefer this over the pulled pork anytime.
Chili bowl — hearty, hearty bowl — a meat eater’s ideal snack. Chunks of ground round with the right amount of beans (I hate chili that has 75% beans and hardly any meat)!
Chuck’s Spicy BBQ sauce is actually spicy, as advertised. Ribs are sold only on Thursdays and Fridays so I most definitely will hit it again for a taste.

Clearly it’s been a long time since my initial visit to Chuck’s Hole in the Wall BBQ back in Dec 2013. Today ~11am, I find myself waiting in the line for next door’s Il Corvo.
However, when someone from Chuck’s opened their front entrance also for lunch, Holy Lord, what an amazing aroma that came wafting out! Committed to mind was a compelling note to self, must worship at the temple of pork ribs.
Got my takeout for the family from Il Corvo, but had a few more minutes left on the meter. So I bought a half rack of those mighty fine ribs and a side of potato salad also to go. I high tailed it home via I-​5 and dug into the best combo lunch.
Those ribs and that potato salad hit the mark and held their own with the Cacio e Pepe entrée from next door. My husband and our kiddo is very lucky that I didn’t scarf their quota of the ribs. Nearly inhaled the potato salad.
Thank you to the fellow Shoreliner who made it a point to remind me of Chuck’s Hole in the Wall BBQ amazing pork ribs!

My Order: 2 meat plate with Beef Brisket and Turkey Breast
The sauce is really good and has a nice kick to it. I don’t eat much red meat at all but I had to have the brisket to prep me for a busy weekend of Capoeira and it was really good, the meat was trimmed well and the serving sizes are good, not soo huge that you feel sick and not soo little that you’re still hungry afterwards.
For once, a place with good corn bread! Finally!!!
I need to bring some home to my famm. I will order again for sure.

Try the beef brisket, it’s very flavorful. I ordered the Lipstick on a Pig with coleslaw and a pickle. It was good but the pulled pork left something do be desired. I kind of think all of their sandwiches should come this way. They pickle is a good/​nice touch. The sandwiches and the 2 meat plate provide plenty of food for lunch.
There is limited seating here at a counter around two walls of the place. At 12:40 on a Thursday, the place wasn’t too busy. The staff is friendly and quick. Altogether not a bad spot for lunch.

Date of service: Dec 11, 2014
Meal: Lunch, Eat in
All Ratings out of 10:
Quality of food: 8
Food to Spend Value: 7
Quality of Service: 8
Overall Rating: 8
As I have stated in other reviews, finding good BBQ in the Pacific NW is about as easy as plucking a hair from a hungry tiger’s butt. Well maybe I haven’t used those words verbatim, but you get the idea. I have lost track of the number of sheer disappointments I have experienced since leaving the BBQ mecca known as the Lone Star State, and I have had many more of those disappointments here in the Puget Sound area. To find a place that actually understands BBQ and happens to be close to my office downtown is almost like plucking hairs from 2 tigers… well, let’s get on to the review!
What I order is based on when I go, as the availability of some items changes during the week. I like to go later in the week (Thursday or Friday) because they have St. Louis Style ribs, and that is what I ordered on this day. You can get a ¹⁄₃ rack or ½ rack, but you may as well jones up for the ½. I always get the beans as my side as they are simply delicious, with a great smoky flavor that I cannot get enough of. The ribs are also quite good. They are tender, juicy, and the dry rub is great on them. I also love the BBQ sauce here, and you can buy it by the bottle (which I do for home ‘Q’ing). The sauce itself is mild, but you can ask for it spicy on your meat, which really spikes the heat up nicely without robbing the flavor. The sauce also complements the meat nicely so you know they aren’t trying to cover mediocre BBQ with sauce, which is what many bad BBQ places do.
If I go earlier in the week, then what I order really depends on what I am in the mood for. The pulled pork is very consistent and on par with pulled pork in Texas. The brisket I have found to be inconsistent, though when it is on it is quite good. They do meatloaf on Mondays, and you haven’t experienced meatloaf until you have had this. I will many times add a side spike to my meal if I am hungry enough, and boy is it good. For the uninitiated, this is their spicy sausage links, and you should do yourself a favor and get some.
The place is small, quite akin to its name, but the service is fast and friendly. I also find that, even when every seat is taken and the line is long, I am typically able to find a seat for myself and whoever I am with. I don’t recommend going with more than a group of 3 if you plan on eating in, though, as it may be impossible to sit together. They cater very well to «To Go» orders, which many people take advantage of.
Hole in the Wall is a gem for Seattle. It isn’t the best BBQ I have ever had, but it is pretty close to the best I have had in the Seattle area. When I am not traveling for work I make it a weekly destination, and the owners recognize me when I come in, making it feel homey as well. The prices are reasonable and the quality is high, so if you are hankering for some decent BBQ in the Puget Sound area, you should stop looking for tigers to pluck and head on over to Hole in the Wall.